Electric-railway system



(1310 Model.) 3 Sheets-$11333 1 ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM.

No. 573,033. Patented Dec. 15, 1896.

INVENTOR AT'TORNE S.

WITNESSES:

TNE Nnms PETERS o0 mom-Luau, WASHINGTON, u c

2 t e e h S m e e h S 3 N R O B S O E B m d 0 M o W ELECTRIC RAILWAYSYSTEM.

No. 573,033. Patented Dec. 15, 1896.

BY @v fi/um,

' ATTORNEYS.

ITNESSES:

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

B. E. OSBORN. ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM.

No. 573,033. Patented Dec. 15,1896.

ATTORNEW,

NITED STATES PATENT 'rrrcn,

ELECTRIC-RAILWAY SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,033, data December15, 189 6. Application filed April 10, 1396. lSerial No. 587,013. (Nomodel.)

'To. Ml whom [It mo/I con/037 1 Be it known that I, BYRON E. OSBORN, ofAuburn, in the county of Cayuga, in .the State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Electric Railway Systems, ofwhich the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in electric-railway systems of theclass set forth in my prior patents, Nos. 549,580 and 556,516, dated,respectively, November 12, 1895, and March 17, 1896, which are providedwitha main or power conductor for conveying an electric current to atrolley or terminal movable along the railway, and has for its objectthe production of a device which is particularly practical, efficient,and safe, and is of such construction as to prevent undue passage of thecurrent from the main or power conductor and to this end itconsists,essentially, in the general construction and 3.1: rangement of thecomponent parts of the sys tem, all as hereinafter more particularlydescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like lettersindicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a vertical section, partly broken away, of a portion of arailway system embodying my invention and parts of a vehicle movablealong the same, the casing or conduitof the system being omitted, theparts supported thereby being shown diagram matically, and the portionsof the vehicle with the exception of its shaft and motors beingindicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a portion ofthe casing or conduit for my improved system. Fig. 3 is a side elevationof a portion of the casing or conduit of my improved electric-railwaysystem, the trolleys of a movable vehicle for said system, and thesupports for the trolleys; and Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectionstaken, respectively, on lines 4 4L and 5 5, r

A represents a casing or conduit, B the main concealed conductor, and OG O C C the exposed conductors. The casing or conduit-A is of anydesirable form, size, and construction, and is suitably arranged andsupported between therails, (not illustrated,)

along which is movable a vehicle D. (Partly illustrated at Fig. 1.1),This casing or conduit A preferably consists 'of short sections whichare arranged end to end and are each composed of separate longitudinaldivisions a a, formed of insulating material and secured together oneabove the other by fastening means. (Not illustrated.) Suitable pocketsor chambers (1., Figs. 4 and 5, extend inwardly from one of thelongitudinal side faces of the casing or conduit A andare formed of lessheight and length than the thickness and width of said casing. Thepockets or chambers a preferably consist of cut-outs formed in theadjacent faces of the divisions and are closed by plates or supports E.

The main conductor B, which is of any dosir-able form, size, andconstruction, is incased or concealed by the casing or conduit A,andpreferably consists of short divisions projecting beyond the ends of thesections of said casing or conduit. The opposite ends of the divisionsof the conductor B are formed with angular bends, Figs. 2 and 5, whichare suitably united and are protected by supplemental casings or boxesB, secured to the adjacent longitudinal side walls of the casing orconduit A. The conductor B is passed through the inner ends of thepockets or chambers a and is provided with an insulating coating thatencircles its entire surface with the exception of the portions thereofwhich are arranged in the pockets or chambers a and are left bare forpermitting electrical contact therewith.

The conductors C C consist of continuous strips mounted on the casing orconduit 'A, and the conductors C C C consis't of sections arranged endto end at the side of said continuous strips. The upper faces of theconductors O O C C C are engaged by trolleys or movable terminals 0 c c0 0 which are connected to suit-able supports (1 d d d 01 secured in anydesired manner to the vehicle D. As here illustrated said supportsareiixed to a yielding plate or head D, forced downwardly by a spring Dand provided with arms D which are movable lengthwise of arms D D",depending from the vehicle D and having their lower ends arranged onopposite sides of a plate D formed of insulating material.

The support d is connected by conductors (Z? (Z to corresponding brushesof the motors D for the vehicleD, and the opposite brushes of saidmotors are connected together by a conductor al which is connected byabranch conductor d to a terminal d. The supports (1' d dd arerespectively connected by conductors d (1 (Z (Z to terminals d (1 al andone pole of abattery c1 7, carried by the vehicle D, and the oppositepole of said battery is connected by a conductor @1 to the terminal (1 Ashunt-conductor d extends from the conductor d" and is ,provided withseparate branches, one of which has electric lamps (Z connected incircuit therewith, and a second shunt-conductor d extends from theconductor (Z and is provided with a switch (Z which at night connectstheconductor 01 to the branch conductor IJIOXiClGd with the lamps c1 andduring the day connects said conductor to the other branch conductor. Anactuating shaft or spindle 01 is supported by the vehicle D and isprovided with suitable switches (Z d for connecting the terminals d9C115 dbl did The plates or supports E, previously mentioned, are securedto corresponding ends of hollow receptacles e,which are form ed ofinsulatin g material, are arranged within the pockets a, and containsuitableelectrically-operated means controlled by the battery 01 forgoverning the transmission of a current from the conductor B to themotors D The receptacles e are provided with conductingpieces 6 forengaging the bare portions of the conductor B within the pockets a andadditional conducting-pieces e e e e c, which engage yielding shouldersor arms arranged at the top of the pockets a and suitably c011- nectedto the conductors O O C 0 C The conducting-pieces e e e are respectivelyconnected by conductors fff to magnets F, a source F of a reducedcurrent, and magnets F and the conducting-pieces e e are suitablyconnected by conductors f f to armatnres f f, actuated by the magnets FF The magnets F are connected by conductors f to fixed terminals f,normally separated from the free ends of the armatures f and saidconductors are provided with helical coils f surrounding the magnets Ffor additionally attracting the armatures f which operate as switches tocomplete the connection between the magnets F and the conducting-piecesThe source F of the current of reduced energy preferably consists of aresistance device connected by a conductor f" to agenerator F which isalso connected by wires f f to the conductors B C. The magnets F areconnected by wires f to fixed terminals f and weighted ends f", ofmagnetizable material, a re formed upon the arinatures f andengage theterminalsf The weighted ends f thus form switches for completing andbreaking the circuits to the magnets F and are held in position bypermanent magnets f connected by wires f to the electrical connections fbetween the armatures f and the conductingpieces 6 The unweighted endsof the armatures f are normally disconnected from the conducting-piecese and are engaged therewith when the magnets F are energized.

In the operation of my invention the switches 01 (Z are actuated toconnect the terminals (1 (Z 01 (Z whereupon a current is free to passfrom one pole of the battery d along the conductor 01 support d trolleyor terminal a, sectional conductor 0*, conducting-piece e conductor fmagnet F conductor f ,terminal f ,weighted end of armature f permanentmagnet f", connections f f, conducting-piece e sectional conductor Otrolley or movable terminal 0 support d conductor (Z terminal d switch(1 and wire (Z to the opposite pole of said battery. This currentenergizes one of the electromagnets F which attracts its armature f andengages the free end thereof with the terminal f. The reduced current isthen free to pass from its source F along the conductor f,conducting-piece a continuous conductor O, trolley or terminal 0,support 61, conductor (Z terminal 01 switch @1 terminal d conductor (Zsupport 01 trolley or movable terminal a sectional conductor 0 condnoting-piece e ,conductorf ,armaturef fixed terminalf helical coil f',connection f magnet F, connection f, conducting-piece 6 continuousconductor (J, and connection f to the generator F This reduced currentadditionally attracts the armature f owing to its passage through thehelical coil f and also energizes the magnet F for engaging theunweighted end of the armature f with the conducting-piece e. The mainor power current is then free to pass from the generator along theconductor f main or power conductor 15, conducting-piece e, armature f,conductor conducting-piece e sectional conductor 0 trolley or movableterminal 0 support (1 conductor d, terminal (Z switch (Z terminal cl,and conductors d cl" to the motors D, and thence along the conductors (Zd, support (I, trolley or movable terminal 0, continuous conductor 0,and conductorf to the generator T During the passage of the main orpower current to the motors D a current is free to pass from theconductor a along the shunt-conductor (Z switch (Z and shunt-conductor(Z to the conductor d As here illustrated and described, my improvedelectric-railway system is designed for use in connection with metalliccircuits for the electric currents; but it will be obvious that, ifdesired, the motors D may be grounded in the usual manner through therails over which the Vehicle D is movable, and wires ff may lead to theground, thus obviating the necessity of the conductor 0 and the trolleyor movable terminal 0.

The operation of myinvention will now be readily understood uponreference to the fore going description and the accompanying drawings,and it will be particularly noted that the main or strong current isfree to pass only when the conductor B therefor is connected to thesection of the conductor 0 beneath the vehicle 0, and that thisconnection is not liable to be unduly made, since it is controlled by asource of electric energy, as a battery cl", and switches (Z 01 carriedby said vehicle. As the exact detail construction and arrangement of theparts of myimproved electric-railway system may be considerably variedWithout departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not hereinspecifically limit myself thereto.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric-railway system, the combination of a moving vehicle, aconcealed conductor for the passage of the main current, a conductor forconveying the main current to the vehicle, independently-movableconnecting-pieces for connecting said conductors, electromagnets foroperating the connectingpieces, additional electromagnets for governingthe operation of the former electromagnets, and means carried by thevehicle for controlling the operation of the additional electromagnets,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an electric-railway system, the combination of a moving vehicle, aconcealed conductor for the passage of the main current, a conductor forconveying the main current to the vehicle, independently-movableconnecting-pieces for connecting said conductors, electromagnets foroperating the connectingpieces, permanent magnets for holding theconnecting-pieces in their normal position, additional electromagnetsfor governing the operation of the former electromagnets, and

means carried by the vehicle for controlling the operation of theadditional electromagnets, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

3. In an electric-railway system, the combination of a moving vehicle, aconcealed conductor for the passage of the main current, a conductor forconveying the main current to the vehicle, independently-movableconnecting-pieces for connecting said conductors, electromagnets foroperatin the connectingpieces, switches for completing and breaking thecircuits connected to said electromagnets, additional electromagnets foractuating the switches and governing the operation of the formerelectromagnets, and means carried by the vehicle for controlling theoperation of the additional electromagnets, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

4. In an electric-railway system, the combination of a moving vehicle, aconcealedconductor for the passage of the main current, a conductor forconveying the main current to the vehicle, independently-movableconnecting-pieces for connecting said conductors, electromagnets foroperating the connectingpieces, additional electromagnets for governingthe operation of the former electromagnets, switches operated by theformer electromagnets for completing and breaking the circuits connectedto the additional electromagnets, and means carried by the vehicle forcontrolling the operation of the additional electromagnets,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In an electric-railway system, the combination of a moving vehicle, aconcealed conductor for the passage of the main current, a conductor forconveying the main current to the vehicle, independently-movableconnecting-pieces for connecting said conductors, electromagnets foroperating the connecting pieces, additional electromagnets for governingthe operation of the former electromagnets, means operated by theconnectingpieces for normally completing the circuits connected to theadditional electromagnets, permanent magnets for holding the connecting-pieces and said means in their normal position, and means carried bythe vehicle for controlling the operation of the additionalelectromagnets, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an electric-railway system, the combination of a moving vehicle, aconcealed conductor for the passage of the main current, a conductor forconveying the main current to the vehicle, independently-movableconnecting pieces for connecting said conductors, electromagnets foroperating the connecting pieces, switches for completing and breakingthe circuits connected to said electromagnets, additional electromagnetsfor actuating the switches and governing the operation of the formerelectromagnets, additional switches operated by the formerelectromagnets for completing and breaking the circuits connected to theadditional electromagnets, and means carried by the vehicle forcontrolling the operation of the additional electromagnets,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

'7. In an electric-railway system, the combination of a moving vehicle,a concealed conductor for the passage of the main current, a

conductor for conveying the main current to ing the connecting-piecesand said means in their normal position, and meanscarried by I thevehicle for controlling the operation of the additional electromagnets,substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In an electric-railway system, the combination of a moving vehicle, aconcealed conductor for the passage of the main current, a conductor forconveying the main current to the vehicle, independently-movableconnecting-pieces for connecting said conductors, electromagnets foroperating the connectingpieces, additional electromagnets for governingthe operation of the former electromagnets, helical coils surroundingthe additional electromagnets and connected in the circuits leading tothe former electromagnets, and means carried by the vehicle forcontrolling the operation of the additional electromagnets,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In an electric-railway system, the combination of a moving vehicle, aconcealed conductor for the passage of the main current, a conductor forconveying the main current to the vehicle, independently-movableconnecting-pieces for connecting said conductors, electromagn ets foroperatingthe connectingpieces, additional electromagnets for governingthe operation of the former electromagnets, helical coils surroundingthe additional electromagnets and connected in the circuits leading tothe former electromagnets, means operated by the connecting-pieces fornormally completing the circuits connected to the additionalelectromagnets, permanent magnets for holding the connecting-pieces andsaid means in their normal position, and means carried by the vehiclefor controlling the operation of the additional electromagnets,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. In an electric-railway system, the combination of a moving vehicle,a concealed conductor for the passage of the main current, an exposedconductor for conveying the current to the vehicle,independently-movable connecting-pieces for connecting saidconductors,electromagnets for operating the 0011- neeting-pieces, a second exposedconductor for conveying a current of reduced energy to saidelectromagnets, additional electromagnets for governing the operation ofthe former electromagnets, a third exposed conductor connected to theadditional electromagnets and means carried by the vehicle for engagingthe exposed conductors and controlling the operation of theelectromagnets, substantially as and for the purpose descirbed.

11. In an electric-railway system, the combination of a moving vehicle,a concealed conductor tor the passage of the main current, an exposedconductor for conveying the cur- .rent to the vehicle,independently-movable connecting pieces for connecting said conductors',electromagnets for operating the connecting-pieces, a second exposedconductor for conveying a current of reduced energy to saidelectromagnets, additional electromagnets for governing the operation ofthe former electromagnets, a third exposed conductor connected to theadditional electromagnets, means operated by the connecting-pieces fornormally completing the circuits connected to the additionalelectromagnets, permanent magnets for holding the connectingpieces andsaid means in their normal position, and means carried by the vehiclefor engaging the exposed conductors and controlling the operation of theelectromagnets, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In an electric-railway system, the combination of a moving vehicle,a concealed conductor for the passage of the main current, an exposedconductor for conveying the current to the vehicle,independently-movable connecting-pieces for connecting said conductors,electromagnets for operating the connecting-pieces, a second exposedconductor for conveying a current of reduced energy to saidelectromagnets, additional electromagnets for governing the operation ofthe form er electromagnets, a third exposed conductor connected to theadditional electromagnets, a generator, a fourth exposed conductorconnected to the generator and to the electro magnets for operating theconnecting-pieces, a fifth exposed conductor connected to the source ofa current of reduced energy, and means carried by the vehicle forengaging the exposed conductors and controlling the operation of theelectromagnets, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. In an electric-railway system,the com bination of a moving vehicle,a concealed continuous conductor for the passage of the main current, anexposed sectional conductor for conveying the current to the vehicle,independently-movable connecting-pieces for connecting said conductors,electromagnets for operating the connecting-pieces, a second exposedsectional conductor for conveying a current of reduced energy to saidelectromagnets, additional electromagnets for governing the operation ofthe former electromagnets,- a.

third exposed sectionaleonductor connected to the additionalelectromagnets, means operated by the connecting-pieces for normallycompleting the circuits connected to the additional electromagnets,permanent magnets for holding the connecting-pieces and said means intheir normal position, a generator, an exposed continuous conductorconnected to the generator and to the electromagnets for operating theconnecting-pieces, a second exposed continuous conductor connected tothe source of a current of reduced energy, and means carried by thevehicle for engaging the exposed conductors and controlling theoperation of the electromagnets, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence oftWo attesting Witnesses, at Auburn, in the county of Cayuga, in theState of New York, this 31st day of March, 1896.

BYRON E. OSBORN.

\Vitnesses:

K. H. THEOBALD, H. E. CHASE.

